With the WTA China Open 2025 in Beijing just days away, the tennis world has been thrown a curveball as Aryna Sabalenka, current world number one, announced her withdrawal due to a minor injury sustained during her recent US Open campaign. This unexpected twist not only shakes up the tournament’s draw but also sets the stage for a dramatic battle in the WTA rankings, with Iga Świątek and Coco Gauff now eyeing potential gains as the season heads into its final stretch.
Sabalenka’s absence from Beijing, confirmed by tournament organizers on September 17, 2025, means she will forfeit the 215 ranking points she earned from last year’s quarterfinal run in the Chinese capital. “Aryna Sabalenka withdrew from the China Open 2025 due to a minor injury. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to Beijing,” stated the official release from the China Open, underscoring both the disappointment and anticipation surrounding the Belarusian’s recovery.
For Sabalenka, the injury is a frustrating setback, but not a catastrophic one—at least for now. She maintains a commanding lead in both the WTA Race and the overall WTA rankings, boasting 11,225 points to Świątek’s 7,934—a gap of 3,291 points. In the Race, which tracks performance over the current season, Sabalenka’s advantage is over 2,000 points (9,610 to 7,534). Yet, with several major tournaments remaining, including the high-stakes WTA 1000 event in Wuhan where Sabalenka is set to defend her title and a hefty 1,000 points, the leaderboard is anything but settled.
Świątek, currently ranked world number two, suddenly finds herself in a more favorable position than the numbers alone might suggest. Unlike Sabalenka and Gauff, the Polish star has very few points to defend in the closing weeks of the season—just 400 from last year’s WTA Finals. That’s a stark contrast to Sabalenka’s 1,400 points at risk (after subtracting the Beijing tally) and Gauff’s daunting 2,690 points to defend following her stellar Asian swing last year. Świątek’s absence from late-season events in 2024, due to a suspension following a doping controversy, means nearly every victory from here on out translates directly into ranking gains.
Świątek’s campaign kicks off in Seoul, where she enters as the tournament’s top seed. Her opening match will be against the winner of Sorana Cirstea and Anastasia Zakharova—a matchup that could set the tone for her autumn push. A deep run in Seoul, combined with a strong performance in Beijing, could see Świątek close the gap on Sabalenka significantly, especially if the Belarusian struggles to regain full fitness in time for Wuhan and the year-end WTA Finals.
For Polish tennis fans, there’s more to cheer about than just Świątek’s chase. Magda Linette (ranked 37th) and Magdalena Fręch (47th) have secured main draw entries in Beijing, while Katarzyna Kawa (124th) will look to navigate the qualifying rounds. Linette, in particular, has started her North American tour on a high note after a three-week break, notching a first-round win at the WTA 500 tournament in Washington, D.C. against Danielle Collins. The match was a showcase of sportsmanship as Linette provided Collins with tape for an ankle injury, and of resilience, as she weathered a tense atmosphere—including a spectator being escorted out for causing a disturbance—to prevail 7-5, 6-4.
Linette’s victory is a welcome boost after a disappointing Grand Slam singles campaign and an early exit from doubles. Her return to form was evident as she fired aces, converted break points, and maintained composure through a second-set comeback from Collins. As Linette prepares for her next match against either Anna Kalinskaya or Kamilla Rakhimova, her performance in Washington could serve as a springboard for deeper runs in Asia.
Meanwhile, the Beijing main draw promises no shortage of star power despite Sabalenka’s absence. Alongside Świątek, the field features Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Madison Keys, Elena Rybakina, and Naomi Osaka, among others. The withdrawal list, which also includes Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Danielle Collins, has opened up further opportunities for rising talents and seasoned pros alike.
Sabalenka’s injury may have altered the immediate landscape, but she’s already looking ahead to Wuhan, where she’ll defend her title starting October 6. Having triumphed there in both 2018 and 2019, the Belarusian will be eager to reclaim her momentum and safeguard her ranking lead. With 1,000 points on the line in Wuhan and the WTA Finals looming, the pressure is on for all contenders.
Yet, the race for world number one is far from a two-horse contest. Coco Gauff, currently trailing both Sabalenka and Świątek, is also under the microscope. The American sensation has a mountain of points to defend after her breakout performances in Asia last year. Any slip-ups could see her drop in the standings, while a strong showing could propel her into the thick of the title chase.
What does all this mean for the remainder of the season? With Sabalenka’s health in question, Świątek’s minimal points to defend, and Gauff’s precarious position, the next few weeks could witness dramatic swings atop the WTA rankings. Every match, every set, and every point will be magnified as the world’s best battle not just for trophies, but for the coveted year-end number one spot.
As the tennis caravan rolls into Beijing, Seoul, and Wuhan, anticipation is running high. Will Sabalenka bounce back and cement her dominance? Can Świątek capitalize on her opportunity and mount a serious challenge for the throne? Or will Gauff defy the odds and surge to the top? One thing’s for certain: the WTA’s late-season drama is just heating up, and fans around the world will be watching every twist and turn.
With lineups set, rivalries renewed, and the stakes higher than ever, the road to the WTA Finals promises to be a rollercoaster. All eyes are now on the courts of Asia, where the next chapter in the battle for tennis supremacy is about to unfold.
